Experts suggest that coffee could reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19, New study suggests.
I Am Grounded, Published: Jul 15, 2021
In today's new blog series titled: 'Things coffee is linked to', we talk about the new discovery between coffee and contracting COVID-19.
Now it's no secret that we love all things coffee, and the nutritional properties in coffee and the fruit are well studied and researched. So it came as no surprise to me that this super elixir could also be the key to helping prevent contraction of COVID-19.
According to research conducted by scientists at Northwestern University, regular consumption of coffee, so 1 or more cups a day, can help to reduce the risk of being infected by the disease by 10% compared to less than 1 cup/day. Northwestern examined 40,000 participants in the UK Biobank, including their nutritional habits for a timeframe of 4 years to conclude that coffee's antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus contagion.
How is this related to the current COVID-19 spread and its strains you may be asking? According to results published in the Nutrients Journal on the 21st of June, the researchers claim that the high antioxidants properties of coffee in part could alleviate symptoms linked to "COVID-19 severity and mortality."
The study says, "Coffee consumption favourably correlates with inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor I (TNF-I), which are also associated with Covid-19 severity and mortality. Coffee consumption has also been associated with lower risk of pneumonia in elderly. Taken together, an immunoprotective effect of coffee against Covid-19 is plausible and merits further investigation.”
However, the verdict is too early to say as more conductive research needs to be undertaken with experts stressing that further investigation is needed. "Although these findings warrant independent confirmation, adherence to certain dietary behaviors may be an additional tool to existing COVID-19 protection guidelines to limit the spread of this virus," the authors noted.
The study also analysed the diseases' correlation with other products. In particular, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of a COVID-19 coronavirus infection, while processed meat shows the opposite effect, not linked to the meat in itself, but rather to harmful food additives.
One thing may be true, eating a whole diet with less processed ingredients is a sure way to give our bodies a fighting chance to stay healthy.
For more on the studied effects of coffee and health, refer to these journal articles and peer reviews.
- Vanessa Murillo Co-founder
References
Details of the amount of Polyphenols & Antioxidants in the Coffee Cherry Pulp.
Effect of Whole Coffee Fruit Extract on BDNF (whole coffee fruit NOT pulp).
Potential alternative uses of coffee by-products by the International Coffee Organisation - good overview of positive potential for coffee waste by-product use and benefits.
Article on the wet process management of the coffee cherry and the negative impacts on waterways and river systems - Specifically in Ethiopia.